November 2017 Cultural Work Roundup

Fill your fall with arts and culture supporting social justice and artists of color!

EVENTS

• Wednesday, 11/1: HaveYourSei Video Premiere – PIAAA and the MCC are premiering a video for the #HaveYourSei campaign. The video highlights the commitment of three different higher education institutions to climate change. We put out a call to people everywhere to sign the declaration to combat the effects of climate change on the world. 12pm-2pm, PSU Pacific Islander, Asian & Asian American Center.
• Wednesdays, 11/1, 11/8, 11/15 & 11/29: Storytelling and Social Justice – Do you want to promote justice and inspire others, but aren't sure how? It starts with telling the right story. Sharpen your communications skills to make meaningful change happen in your own community. Over four weeks, seasoned storytellers Matt Kinshella and Shawn Fleek will help people flesh out stories of their own, understand the complex roots of social movements, and challenge preconceived notions along the way. 6:30pm-8:30pm, 3534 SE Main St.
• Wednesday, 11/1 - Sunday, 11/12: ÉXODO by Tracy Cameron Francis and Roy Antonio Arauz – Milagro’s 22nd annual Día de Muertos program presents a new, company devised espectáculo built around the theme of diaspora. Inspired by the Egyptian Book of the Dead and recent refugee stories, we embark on a journey of the living and the dead as they both seek safety and peace in a new home. Adult tickets are $32 at the door, and there is a discount for students, seniors, veterans, and groups 15+. Tuesday-Saturday at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2pm, Milagro Theatre.
• Thursday - Friday, 11/3 - 11/4 and Thursday - Saturday, 11/9 - 11/11: CITIZEN: an American Lyric – CITIZEN: an American Lyric, by Claudia Rankine, adapted for the stage by Stephen Sachs is an urgent, boundary-crossing work of prose, poetry, and visual imagery written by groundbreaking American poet. The performance examines the ways racism pervades daily life in America, from highly visible news accounts to the daily microaggressions that render certain citizens invisible in our culture.The show that engages in a powerful and poetic way some of the micro and macro ways racism accumulates in the body. **The performance contains explicit language, racial slurs, and references to violence.** 7:30pm, Performing Arts Building, Reed College.
• Saturday, 11/4: Cottonwood In The Flood + Vanport exhibit – Cottonwood in the Flood tells the tale of one (fictional) African-American family and their experiences in Vanport both during and immediately after the war, a time and place where America's nobler ideals and its history of racial injustice collide head-on in the Pacific Northwest. The staged reading of the play will feature Lewis and Clark College students and will be directed by Damaris Webb. A screening of Challenging History, a short documentary featuring Vanport survivor Beatrice Gilmore, will precede the reading. 2pm-5pm, Lewis and Clark College.
• Tuesday, 11/7: Diversity in Southeast – Part of the Jade-Midway Placemaking Projects, this exhibition presents illustrations of Division Street that have been transformed into a full deck of 52 fine art playing cards by illustrator Hampton Rodriguez. This event features larger format prints of the card illustrations and some initial drawings and sketches, with the aim to stimulate the public and catalyze the creation of further urban art by communities along the Division corridor. 6pm-8pm, Rosewood Initiative.
• Friday, 11/10 - Saturday, 11/18: Portland Asian Film Festival – More than 30 feature films from Far East Asia! Kim Ki-duk, Hideo Nakata, Brillante Mendoza, Hong Sang-soo in the line-up. Various times and locations.
• Sunday, 11/12: Tender Table – Tender Table is a storytelling platform featuring women of color and gender-nonconforming people of color and their stories about food, family, and identity. Join us for stories and food by Thai Me Up by PATTA and Chef Woonsen Chaddanai of Sweet Basil Thai Cuisine. 3pm-5pm, Sweet Basil Thai Cuisine.
• Monday, 11/13: Native Wisdom Film Screening and Community Consulation – Hosted by Wisdom of the Elders, the screening will include two documentaries which feature Oregon Native people as they discuss the impact of a changing environment, and how it is affecting their lives and rich cultural arts. Accompanying the films will be a selection of short films made by emerging Native filmmakers from Wisdom's own Native Film Academy. This event is free to the public. 7pm-9pm, OMSI.
• Tuesdays, 11/14, 11/21, & 11/28: Theatre for Action: Forum Theatre Lab – Join Living Stages for a 5-week course and theatre development process exploring Theatre for Action! Participants will practice and develop skills in theatre games for community-building, and create short interactive forum scenes about issues of oppression and real-life problems. All material will be based on the real-life experiences of participants. Tuition for course is $165, with payment arrangements and some financial assistance available. 5pm-7pm, New Expressive Works.
• Friday, 11/17: Camera Rawr Book Release – A celebration of the release of Camera Rawr, a hybrid image/text book project by John Akira Harrold. Simultaneously gentle yet over-exposed, Camera Rawr is a tactile experience that weaves together themes of sexuality, porn, and API identity. 6pm, Fruit Salad Club.
• Saturday, 11/18: Latinos Unidos PDX for Mexico & Puerto Rico – Hosted by Latinos Unidos PDX, this event brings together Portland's Latino performing and visual artist community to support local, grassroots relief efforts in Mexico and Puerto Rico. All ages are welcome, and the event will feature music and dancing performances by Conjunto alegre and Salsanova, among others. 12pm-8pm, Portland Mercado.
• Saturday, 11/18: A Homage to Omar Khayyam – On behalf of Lewis and Clark College Music Department and Andisheh Center, we are pleased to invite you to Iranian traditional music and art workshops followed by an evening performance. The workshops are a great introduction and a hands-on experience, designed for anyone who is interested in Iranian music and art. Registration for workshops is on a first come, first served basis. 1:30pm-8pm, Gregg Pavilion and Agnes Flanagan Chapel.

OPPORTUNITIES

• RACC launches national search for new Executive Director: The Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) Board of Directors, together with its executive search firm Koya Leadership Partners, has released the job description for a new Executive Director. Applications are being accepted now, with a goal of having the new Executive Director in place next spring. The position profile is available here.
• Creative Laureate sought by City of Portland: The Creative Laureate, established in 2012 by former Mayor Sam Adams, serves as the official ambassador for the broader creative community in Portland, Oregon. The Laureate will be expected to actively participate in a select number of public events, including public speaking engagements, workshops, and displays or presentations of their own artistic work, as well as regular interactions with the media. The duties of this position call for a balance between advocacy, education, and ceremonial functions. Applications will be accepted starting November 1, 2017 through December 15, 2017. Apply here.
• Oregon Humanities Responsive Program Grants: Oregon Humanities Responsive Program Grants support programs created in response to timely issues or events that the applicant organization is qualified to help the public explore. Awards of up to $1,000 are made on a rolling basis to nonprofit organizations and federally recognized tribes in Oregon. Applicants may receive only one Responsive Program Grant per cycle and programs be must completed by December 31, 2018.
• Call for volunteers to serve on Historic Landmarks Commission: The Historic Landmarks Commission hears proposals for large-scale infill and new development proposals in Historic and Conservation Districts and also reviews large proposals for alterations to existing landmarks and to existing structures in Historic and Conservation Districts. Currently, one position is available. It may fall either within the category of “architect,” “public-at-large” or several other related disciplines. Applications must be submitted by Friday Oct. 27, 2017.
• Discounted workshops for artists at the Regional Arts & Culture Council: APANO affiliates receive a $5 discount for professional development workshops using the code APANO2017. Link: RACC 2017 workshops.

/// More on the Cultural Work Roundup ///

The Cultural Work Roundup is a monthly spotlight on arts and cultural events and opportunities that:

• Directly relate to APANO's cultural work strategies to impact beliefs, actions and policies through centering the voices of those most impacted and silenced, resisting and shifting harmful narratives and ideas, and moving beyond defensive strategies to envisioning alternatives.
• Centralize the voices of Oregon-based Asian and Pacific Islander artists and/or artists of color.

Events may include readings, exhibitions, festivals, openings, and performances. Opportunities may include calls for artistic submissions, grant and funding opportunities, and volunteer opportunities. The deadline for submissions is the third Friday of each month for events and opportunities that fall into the following month. For example, events and opportunities that take place in June are due to APANO by the third Friday in May.

The Cultural Work Roundup will be posted on APANO's website and shared via APANO's digital communications platforms. Events and opportunities will be posted at APANO's discretion based on alignment with our cultural work values. You may submit to the Cultural Work Roundup by filling out our Google Form at bit.ly/culturalworkroundup.

If you have any questions, please contact Cultural Work & Development Coordinator Candace Kita at candace@apano.org. Enjoy!